Liquid dispensing device



April 9, 1935. L, wn- I 1,996,944

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 9, 1935.

1.. WITTER V -LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed March 1, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 9, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Lawrie L. Witter, Jamaica Plain, Mass.

Application March 1,

15 Claims.

This. invention relates to liquid dispensing devices and more especially to devices for dispensing gasoline and the like. The gasoline pumps now in common use for this purpose are constructed to dispense in quantity amounts, as by the gallon, which is very inconvenient and troublesome due to the odd price of gasoline per gallon and, therefore, the fractional amount due for each sale, this amount usually being a few odd cents below or above an even dollar. One object of my invention is the production of an improved dispensing device of the meter-measuring type by which gasoline or other liquids can be dispensed in amounts correspondingto cle-v sired or predetermined money values rather than in amounts corresponding to volume measurements.

I am aware that meter-measuring dispensing devices have heretofore been proposed which measure or compute the money value of the amount of liquid dispensed but these devices require great care and accuracy on the part of the attendant and leave much possibility for errors. A purchaser of gasoline usually desires a volume corresponding to a predetermined money value, and in the devices heretofore known this volume can be dispensed only by closely watching the register and stopping the pump when the corresponding figure has been reached. The accuracy of such devices, therefore, depends to a large degree upon the eye and efiiciency of the attendant, whereby discrepancies and losses may occur. My invention herein provides adjustable stop means which may be conveniently set to a position corresponding to the value amount of liquid it is desired to dispense and which will automatically stop the dispensing operation when the meter has reached that position. A value graduated member or dial cooperates with the setting means, and this member may be conveniently removed and replaced by another graduated member whenever the price of the liquid is changed. -While, as above. described, my invention deals primarily with a dispensing device adapted to dispense a predetermined money value amount of liquid, the same is also adapted to dispense any desired amount, of known or unknown volume, and thereupon clearly indicate the money value thereof The production of a liquid dispensing device of this and the above-defined nature which is of relatively simple construction and definite in operation, whereby a minimum amount of supervision is required by the attendant, comprises a further object of the invention.

These and other features of the invention will 1933, Serial N 659,145 (01. 221-101) be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partially broken I away, of a gasoline pump embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the indicating dial;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged and fragmentary view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through the dispensing nozzle;

Fig. 5' is a fragmentary detail view of the motor-controlling switch;

Fig. 6 is a plan view taken approximately on 15 line 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken on lines 7-1, 8-8 and 99 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified feature of the invention;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view taken on line l2-ql2 of Fig. 11; v

Fig. 13 illustrates another modified feature of 25 the invention;

Fig. 14 is an enlarged sectionalv view through the dispensing nozzle shown in Fig. 13'; and

Figs. 15 and 16 are fragmentary sectional views showing a further modified form of the inven- 30 tion.

In Figs. 1-10 of the drawings is illustrated a casing I 0 supported on a base l2 and housing mechanism for dispensing gasoline from an underground tank. The mechanism within the casing comprises a pump i4 driven from an electric motor l5 and adapted to deliver gasoline from the tank through piping l6 and H, the usual relief bypass l8 being provided around the pump. The pipe 11 is connected to a meter 20, of any desired and well-known construction, and an outlet pipe 2| from the meter has the usual hose 22 attached thereto, a sight glass being shown at 23. A nozzle 24 attached to the free end of the hose, 4 and shown in section in'Fig. 4, is hereinafter more specifically described.

It will be understood that all liquid dispensed must pass through and operate the meter 20, and a shaft 26 extending from the meter is driven through suitable gearing therefrom. A worm 21 on the shaft (Fig. 6) is in mesh with a worm gear 28 mounted to rotate on a fixed sleeve 29 carried on a supporting bracket 30, a drum 3| being carried 'by and preferably integral with the gear. a

,The drum is positively rotated by the meter in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 7)

A shaft 32 has one end extending through and supported by the sleeve 29 and bracket 89 and its other end is supported by a bracket 84, the brackets 30-34 being mounted on the casing at 35. The front end of the shaft extends outwardly through the casing l0 and has a squared end 36 on which is mounted an indicator 38. The amount of liquid dispensed is determined by the rotation of the shaft 32, as shown by the position of the indicator relative to the graduations on a dial 49. This dial is positioned over the shaftand within a circular flange 4| on the casing and is rotatably positioned by a lug 32 extending through a hole in the dial.'

A sleeve 48 of insulation material is mounted on the drum 3i and is normally prevented from rotation thereon by a friction shoe 35 extending through a hole in the sleeve and engaging within a groove d6 formed within and around the drum, a spring 48 holding the shoe in contact with the drum. A stop lug 39 on the sleeve cooperates with a fixed bracket 50 for limiting rotation of the sleeve in the rearward direction. A drum 5i, keyed to the shaft 32, has a ring 52 of insulation material fixed thereto. Fixed onto the sleeve 93 and ring 52 are two metallic bands 58 and 55 provided with contact abutments 56 and 5?, respectively, and brushes 58 and 59 are in contact with the bands 56 and 55. The shaft 32 may be prevented from free rotation by a light friction spring 60 and the weight of the indicator 38 may be counggrbalanced by adding metal to the drum 5| at When the indicator is rotated anti-clockwise, the contact 51 engages the contact 56 and rotates the sleeve rearwardly on the drum SI and, when such rotation is arrested by the stop 99 engaging the bracket 50, the indicator is at the zero position on the dial. In Figs. 2 and 6-9, the sleeve dd is shownin its rearmostposition and the indicator and its drum 5i are illustrated as set forwardly to the one gallon dispensing position. Forward rotation of the indicator and its drum BI is limited by a stop lug 63 on the drum coming into contact with the bracket 50, and forward rotation of the sleeve 34 is limited by its contact 56 enga ing with the contact 5'7. When the drum 5! is in such foremost position, the indicator is at the 10 gallon dispensing position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The dial 40, shown in Fig. 2, is graduated in gallons from 1 to 10 inclusive and also in the value amount thereof at 20 per gallon. The dial is also provided with a series of perforations 64 disposed in alignment with the volume indices and another series of perforations 95 disposed in alignment with the value indices. Carried by the indicator are two detents for engaging respectively within the perforations 34 and 95, the

'detents being operated by knobs 9S and 61. Thus, the indicator and its drum can be set to correspond with either the volume or value positions indicated. When the indicator is thus set and the dispensing operation started, such operation is automatically interrupted as hereinafter described, when the contact 56 reaches a fixed or I constant predetermined position relative to the contact 51 in which position they are in contact.

scribed, until the stop 49 engages with thebracket 50. An interlock, including a pawl 68 and dog 10 on a shaft -12 in the bracket 50, is provided for preventing forward setting movement of the indicator until the sleeve has been restored to initial position. A spring 13 normally engages the pawl with ratchet teeth It on the drum 5! and a lug I5 is so located on the sleeve as to raise the dog and pawl when the sleeve is in its zero position. Thus, the indicator can be adjusted forwardly only when the sleeve is in its initial or zero position.

The flow of gasoline through the meter is controlled by a valve 77 in the nozzle 24 and this valve is normally held in its closed position by a spring 79. The valve stem extends through a stufing box l9 and into a. closed chamber at. A solenoid, within the chamber and comprising a coil 8| and a co-operating armature core 92 on the rod, serves when energized to open the valve against the action of the spring. The wires 83 from the coil pass through an insulation block 95 and are built into and extend around the hose to the casing 10.

The mechanism for controlling the dispensing operation is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and in the wiring diagram of Fig. 10. The motor I5 is in a circuit 85, including a shunt switch 81 normally closed by a spring 88 when the hose is removed from thehook 89 (Fig. 5). The circuit 89 also includes two elements 90 and 9! of a switch having a third element 92'connected to one of the wires 86 extending through the coil 9!. The switch 9692 is adapted to be closed by pushing inwardly on a knob 94 mounted on a rod 95, the rod being provided with two notches cooperating with a spring 96 for holding the rod in either of its two positions. The rod has an armature core 91 thereon cooperating with a coil 98 within a circuit I99 having its terminals connected to the brushes 58 and 59. A normally closed switch 40! in this circuit has one element thereof in the path of movement of a pin Hi2 on the rod 95, whereby the switch is open when the rod is in its outermost position. The arrangement is such that pushing the knob 96 inwardly closes the switch 99-92, thus energizing the solenoid 8i and opening the valve W. The closing of the switch 9632 also closesthe circuit through the motor, thus preventing the possibility of opening the valve without operating the motor, as would otherwise be possible by holding the hook 89 down manually after removing the hose therefrom.

The operation of the mechanism to dispense a predetermined amount of gasoline may be briefly described as follows, it being assumed that the indicator 38 and cooperating parts are in the zero or initial position and that the motor switch 81 has been closed by removing the hose from its hook 99. The operator sets the indicator 38 to a position corresponding to the volume or value amount of liquid to be dispensed and plugs the detent 86 or 6? into the corresponding perforation in the disk to. This operation has set the contact 6? a corresponding distance from the contact 55. The operator then pushes the knob 94 inwardly, whereupon the switches 99-92 and till are closed and the valve F1 is opened. The dispensing'operation proceeds until the contact 56 engages the contact 5?, whereupon the solenoid 93 is energized and moves the rod toits outer position, thus causing the switches 99-92 and 'ml to open and the valve ll to close. The operator restores the indicator and its cooperating parts to the initial pcnition by withdrawing the knob as or 67 and rotating the indicator backwardly The operation of this control for dispensing an unknown quantity of liquid, commonly called a fill-up, is substantially as follows, it being assumed that the indicator 38 and cooperating parts are in the initial position. Drawing the knob outwardly. causes the valve 11 to open and starts the dispensing operation, during which operation the indicator 38 is rotated with the drum 3|. The operation isstopped merely by pushing the knob inwardly and the position of the indicator on the dial points directly to the volume and value amount of liquid dispensed. If desired, a remote control for stopping the dispensing opera tion may be provided. I have illustrated such a control as embodying an armature I08 on the rod I04 and cooperating with a coil 0 in circuit with one of the wires 84 and a third wire III built into the hose. A manually-controlled switch II2 built into the nozzle is in circuit with these wires.

It will be understood that the various features of the invention can be considerably-modified from that illustrated in the drawings and, in Figs. 11 and 12, I have shown one such modification wherein the friction sleeve carried by the meterdriven drum is automatically restored to initial position following each dispensing operation. The shaft I32 and fixed sleeve I29 correspond to the shaft 32 and sleeve 29 of Fig. 6. A drum I20 is keyed to the hub I2I of a worm gear I22 and the hub is mounted to rotate on the sleeve I29. An outer member or sleeve I24 of insulation material is frictionally mounted on the drum and is provided with a hub portion I28 of reduced diameter. A-

steel tape I26 is wound about this hub in a direction to rotate the same rearwardly as the tape is unwound. The tape extends downwardly and its end is attached at I26 to a hose-holding element I28. A spring I30 normally holds the element in its uppermost position, wherein it closes the motor switch 81.

The use of this modified feature is substantially as follows. The operator adjusts the indicator 38 to the position corresponding with the amount of liquid to be dispensed and removes the hose and places its nozzle within the receiving tank. The element I28, being relieved of the weight of the hose, moves to its uppermost position, thus leaving the tape free to move upwardly when the member I24 is rotated forwardly by the meter. Following the completion of the dispensing operation, the operator hangs the hose onto the element I28, which thereupon moves downwardly and restores the friction sleeve I24 to its initial position. The interlock 68-15 may be dispensed with when using this construction.

It will be understood that the controlling valve 11 may be located anywhere in the conduit beyond the meter, as may be founddesirable. In

Figs. 13 and 14, I have illustrated this valve I11= as located on the piping adjacent to the attached hose I18, the valve being normally closed by a spring and opened by a solenoid at I80, in the manner already described in connection .with

Figs. 1-10. 'In order to prevent draining of thev hose, I mount a self-closing valve I8I in the nozzle I82. This valve is normally closed by a spring I83, strong enough to hold the valve closed against the weight of liquid in the hose when the valve In is closed; When the valve I11 is opened for dispensing, the pressure of liquid in.

the conduit readily opens the valve I8I. It may in some cases be found desirable to provide more than one valve of thenature of valve I8I, whereby to aid in supp rting the weight of liquid in the hose. One or more such additional valves may be provided as indicated at I84.

Also, while I prefer to operate the controlling valve 11 electrically, it will be understood that other power, such as pneumatically-operated means, may be used. Such a means as shown in Fig. 15 may comprise a controlling valve I normally closed by a spring I5I and adapted to be opened by air pressure from a pipe I52 in communication with a cylinder I53. A rotary valve I55 controls the passage of air through the pipe I52. When the valve I55 is in the (first) position illustrated, the pipe is in communication with an exhaust pipe I56 and the valve I50 is closed. When the valve I55 is rotated 90 (second position), the pipe I52 is brought into communication with a pipe I51, providing air under pressure to the cylinder whereby to open the valve I50. The dispensing operation is started by rotating the valve I55 manually to said second position, whereupon the valve I50 is opened, and the dispensing operation is automatically stopped by a solenoid I58, which serves to rotate the valve I55 back to the first position when the contacts 56 and 51' are brought into engagement.

Cooperating mechanism for automatically restoring the friction sleeve I24 to its initial position at the end of each dispensing operation is shown in Fig. 16. This mechanism includes a cylinder I60 having a piston therein mounted on a piston rod I6I. One end of a tape I62 is wound around the hub I24 of the friction sleeve and its other end is connected to the piston rod. Pipes I 63 and I64 connect opposite ends of the cylinder to the valve I55. When the valve is in the position of Figs. 15 and 16, air pressure from a pipe I65 passes through ports I66 and I63 to the forward end of the cylinder and rotates the hub rearwardly. When the valvev is rotated to its other position, the piston rod is moved to the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 16, wherein the friction sleeve is free to move forwardly.

It will also be noted that the ends of the port I66 are cut away at I61 and I68, whereby to adniit air early to the port I64 and thus freethe friction sleeve prior to the opening of the valve I50.

I-desire it to be understood that I have herein more particularly illustrated my invention in association with gasoline dispensing pumps as by way of example only, the invention having various other useful applications wherein the dispensing of a definite quantity ofliquid is required. The dispensing of fuel oil from truck tanks may be mentioned as another valuable use therefor. Such a-tank, equipped with my invention, may carry a large quantity of oil and deliver the same to various customers in predetermined amounts. When reaching the first customer, the operator need only set the device to deliver the quantity ordered and the dispensing will be automatically stopped when that amount has been delivered, the operator being free to attend to other matters during the dispensing operation. The remaining orders are filled-in like manner, with a minimum of attention from the operator. Various mechanical changes in the mechanism illustrated will, of course, be found desirable and it will be understood that the invention is not limited in this respect, except as required by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim as new. and desire to secure by. Letters Patent is:

1. In a liquid dispensing device, a pipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid flow, a member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustable along and in said path relative to the first member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the second member to predetermined positions, and means including said members for automatically checking the liquid dispensing operation when the first member reaches a predetermined position relative to the second member.

2. The device set forth in claim 1, in which the second-named means includes an electric switch operated by the first and second-named members at the said relative predetermined position thereof.

3. In a liquid dispensing device, a pipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid flow, a member operated from the meter, a second member adjustably carried by the first member and movable therewith along a fixed path, a third member adjustable along and in said path relative to the second member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the third member to predetermined positions, and means including the second and third members for automatically checking the liquid dispensing operation when the second member contacts" with the third member.

4. In a liquid dispensing device, a pipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid fiow, a member rotated from the meter, a second member frictionally connected to rotate with the first member, a third member adjacent to and rotatably adjustable relative to the second member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the third member to predetermined positions, and means including the second and third members for automatically checking the liquid dispensing operation when the second member reaches a predetermined position relative to the third member.

5. In a liquid dispensing device, a pipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid flow, a member rotated from the meter, a second member adjustably carried by the first member, a third member adjacent to and rotatably adjustable relative to the second member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the third member to predetermined positions, and means including cooperating elements carried by the second and third members for automatically checking the liquid dispensing operation when the elements come into contact, said Q elements providing abutment surfaces whereby the second member may rotate the third member 7 and the indicator.

mo em the liquid flow, a hose connected to the pipe beyond the meter, means for receiving and supporting the free end of the hose, a member rotated from the meter, a second member adjustably carried by the first member, a thirdmember adjacent to and rotatably adjustably relative to the second member, means including an indicator for adjusting the third member to predetermined positions, means for automatically checking the liquid dispensing operation when the second member reaches a predetermined position relative to the third member, and means whereby the first-named means returns thesecond member to an initial-position when the hose is hung onto the first-named member.

8. In a liquid dispensing device, a pipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid flow, a hose connected to the pipe beyond the meter, a nozzle at the free end of the hose and including a normally closed valve and a solenoid for opening the valve, means including an electric switch for energizing the solenoid and opening the valve, a member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustable along and in said path relative to the first member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the second member to predetermined positions and means including said members and a second switch for causing the first switch to open and the valve to close when the first member reaches a predetermined position relative to the second member.

9. In a liquid dispensing device, a conduit for conducting liquid, a meter in the conduit for measuring the liquid flow, a normally closed valve in the conduit beyond the meter, a motor for opening the valve, means for causing the motor to open the valve, a member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustable along and in said path relative to the first member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the second member to predetermined positions, and means including said members and an electric switch operative on the first-named means to render the motor inoperative and cause the second-named valve to close when the first member reaches a predetermined position relative to the second member.

10. In a liquid dispensing device, apipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid flow, a hose connected to the pipe beyond the meter, a nozzle at the free end of the hose and including a spring closed valve opening automatically when the liquid pressure in the hose is greater than the force of the spring, a normally closedvalvein thepipe beyondthemeter, a motor for opening the normally closed valve, means for causing the motor to open the valve, a

member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustable along and in said path relative to the first member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the second member to predetermined positions, and means including said members and an electric switch operative on the first-named means to render the motor inoperative and cause the second-named valve to close when the first memberreaches a predetermined position relative to the second member.

11. In a liquid dispensing device, a conduit for conducting liquid, a -meter in the conduit for measuring the liquid flow, a normally closed valve in the conduit beyond the meter, a solenoid for opening the valve, means including an electric switch for energizing the solenoid and opening the valve, a member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustable along and in said path relative to the first member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the second member to predetermined positions, means including said members and a second switch for causing the first switch to open and the valve to close when the first member reaches a predetermined position relative to the second member, and other means for causing the valve to open and be held open while the members are in the last-named predetermined position.

12. The device set forth in claim 11,. plus means remote from the last-named means and under manual control for causing the valve to close.

13. In a liquid dispensing device, a conduit for conducting liquid, a meter in the conduit for measuring the liquid flow, a normally closed valve in the conduit beyond the meter, a solenoid for opening the valve, means including an electric switch for energizing the solenoid and opening the valve, 2. member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustable along and in said path relative to the first member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the second member to predetermined positions, and means including and cooperating with the said members to cause de-energizing of the solenoid and closing of the valve when the first member reaches a predetermined position relative to the second member.

14. In a liquid dispensing device, a conduit for conducting liquid, a meter in the conduit for measuring the liquid flow, a valve in the conduit beyond the meter, a fluid pressure motor for opening the valve and holding it open, a valve for controlling the motor, and means cooperating with the meter and operative on the second valve to cause the first valve to close when a predetermined amount of liquid has been dispensed.

15. In a liquid dispensing device, a pipe for conducting liquid, a meter in the pipe for measuring the liquid flow, a. member operated from the meter along a fixed path, a second member adjustably carried by the first member, a third member adjustable relative to the second member, means including an indicator for so adjusting the third member to predetermined positions, means including the second and third members for automatically checking the liquid dispensing operation when the second member reaches a predetermined position relative to the third 7 member, and means thereafter automatically returning the second member to initial position relative to the first member.

LAWRIE L. WTITER.. 

